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How to transition to British Summertime!

-Mar 26, Hannah Hargrave, Living -

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If you’re feeling stressed it’s possibly because your body is suffering slight jet lag from the change of season.

Although this shift is often welcomed more than the darkened turn back of clocks in November (despite the fact you gain an hour then) adjusting to the new sleep pattern can be tricky – even though it’s really just one hour.

On March 31st this year the clocks will go forward one hour in the UK stripping us of 60 minutes of sleep but gifting us with longer natural daylight hours. Here’s how to work with your body clock as we swing into a new time of year.

With these super simple tips you can make the switch to daylight saving time without feeling you’re missing out on your beauty sleep.

Put Your Clock Back Early

While the clocks officially go forward at midnight it’s worth adjusting the time before then. Try resetting your clocks at dinner time so you’re more likely to go to bed earlier.

If you know you simply won’t be able to drop off a whole hour earlier than usual then start prepping yourself for the change several days ahead. Shift your bedtime by 15 minutes each night in the run up to daylight savings and the adjustment will be easier than doing it in one go.

Reset Your Body Clock

Being ripped of your restful sleep patterns and thrust out of kilter can bump our circadian rhythm. Putting your body clock out of sync can cause real problems when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep.

See this as a fresh start. Aim to turn off electronic devices at least an hour before bed. Get into the habit of reading a book and establish a nighttime routine – calming yoga, meditation or a warm bath – to take you into summer time feeling more refreshed and less sleep deprived.

Add Exercise

Exercise helps improve sleep and reduce stress and with an extra hour of evening lighter you could cash in on some evening workouts. Rather than settling in for a night in front of the fire – which is lovely in the winter but a bit of a waste in spring – take advantage of a refreshing, brisk walk after dinner while the sun is still up or put a pep in your step with a jog pre-mealtime.

Avoid Social Jet Lag

If you can, ensure you go to sleep at a normal time on the Friday and Saturday before Daylight Savings. Throwing your body all out of whack in the run up to the time change will make the transition way harder to deal with. So if you were planning a late night party on March 29th and you generally struggle with the time change it might be worth making a date with a good book and your bed instead.